The results of Graces's test came back quickly. When the old butler brought the report for Lu Xia to review, she saw that Graces's genetic assessment was no different from what she had previously known.
He was, indeed, theoretically a reject of the Empire's gene fusion.
So Graces hadn't been lying.
Standing to one side, the old butler watched Lu Xia's knitted brow, resisting the urge to persuade her to go to the hospital for a check-up. After all, if this was true, the fetus in Duke Lu Xia's womb would be the Empire's first naturally born child in hundreds of years.
Not a product of artificial fusion.
It would be recorded in the annals of history.
However, before he could speak, Lu Xia put down the test report and said, "Contact a hospital and find a trustworthy doctor in this field. I want to get a check-up, but I don't want too many people to know about it."
Regardless, she needed a definitive answer.
Seeing that Lu Xia hadn't completely rejected the idea of going to the hospital, the old butler breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll get on it right away," he said hastily.
Watching the old butler leave, Lu Xia pursed her lips. 'If I really am pregnant, I'm not actually opposed to this child's arrival.'
'After all, I have no family in this world.'
'But this all just seems too incredible.'
The old butler was exceptionally efficient. He quickly contacted a doctor for her, someone who had been the previous Duke's personal physician a few years ago and had established ties with the Duke Mansion.
The doctor guaranteed he would not leak the patient's personal information.
Early the next morning, Lu Xia skipped breakfast and went straight to the hospital on an empty stomach.
First, they drew her blood, then ran tests with various instruments.
After the whole ordeal, it was already afternoon by the time she received the data reports. All of them confirmed that her terminal's indicator light had not been mistaken.
She was, in fact, pregnant.
The doctor performing the tests leaped from his chair the moment he saw the results. He stared at the report in his hands for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence. "This... this... this..."
In contrast to the doctor's shock, Lu Xia was perfectly calm. "What's my condition? Are there any adjustments I need to make?"
She wasn't one to dwell on the unchangeable. Since this had happened and there was no going back, her only option was to accept it.
The doctor's eyes grew red, and he looked overcome with emotion. "According to the data, your physical condition is perfectly normal. You just need to maintain it. However, it would be best if we monitor the course of the pregnancy. We can't be certain what might happen to you. The Empire has very little experience in this area; you could say it's a complete blank slate."
At this, the doctor swallowed hard before continuing, "So… would you be willing to wear a monitoring chip?"
"This monitoring chip… where does it transmit the data? I have no intention of becoming someone's research subject." She lacked that kind of self-sacrificing spirit and didn't want to invite trouble. 'Right now, I'm rather glad I hold the title of Duke.'
"Generally, a case like yours would be best handled by the Fertility Research Institute. I'm sure they've already received an alert about your status. However, from what I understand, their institution's monitoring system hasn't been upgraded. So, they probably haven't obtained your physiological data or identity information yet. If you're not willing to go through them, I can safeguard your data myself. What do you think?"
He didn't give a long speech to win Duke Lu Xia's trust, merely laid out the situation clearly for her.
The final decision rested with Duke Lu Xia.
Lu Xia didn't hesitate for long. "Alright. If the Fertility Research Institute comes looking, I'll have to ask you to deal with them for me, Doctor Eugene."
"Rest assured, it's the least I can do," Doctor Eugene said. He quickly found a small monitoring chip, applied it to Lu Xia's terminal, and explained patiently, "This chip is only responsible for monitoring your physical condition. If it detects any anomalies, it will vibrate to alert you. I will receive the feedback simultaneously and can take immediate measures to remedy any issues."
"Alright, I understand." Lu Xia said no more. After confirming her pregnancy, a sense of calm had actually washed over her.
Though this was her first pregnancy, it wasn't as if she was completely ignorant. She knew, more or less, what symptoms to expect during gestation.
Instead of going home after leaving the hospital, Lu Xia went directly to the No.1 Institute. As she had arranged, eight researchers had started their new posts today.
Everyone greeted Lu Xia when she arrived. She reviewed the research they had just begun, offered a couple of suggestions, and then left the laboratory for her office without lingering.
After she left, the researchers in the lab couldn't help but start talking among themselves—
"I never would have guessed Duke Lu Xia was so brilliant. Her suggestions felt even more precise than my own mentor's."
"Right? You never know until you meet someone in person. Now that I have, I don't think Duke Lu Xia is anything like the rumors claim!"
"You think so too? I was just about to say the same thing! Aside from being a little serious, she's surprisingly pleasant to be around."
"So, do you guys think she's really pregnant?"
"Are you still dwelling on that? I think Duke Lu Xia was telling the truth about her terminal malfunctioning. Didn't you see she had a new one today? Natural conception isn't something that just happens. What are the odds we'd be the ones to witness it?"
"Exactly. If that were the case, wouldn't our luck be a little too good to be true?"
...
Once in her office, Lu Xia began sorting through years of information on the Duke Mansion's business contacts, picking out those who might be useful in the near future.
Her research was certain to yield results, and she couldn't afford to wait until then to consider these matters.
While Lu Xia was busy working, the old butler entered and informed her, "Duke, an invitation just arrived from Count Linse. He is hosting a hundred-day celebration for his third child and hopes you will be able to attend."
Lu Xia was a little surprised. 'I didn't expect they had hundred-day celebrations in this world, too.' "I won't be attending," she said. "Please prepare a gift to send over."
After saying this, Lu Xia stood and put on her coat. Seeing this, the old butler quickly turned to have the car prepared, knowing Duke Lu Xia was ready to leave.
Before she departed, Lu Xia went to say a quick word to the researchers, and only left after confirming they had no immediate questions.
However, after she boarded the hover car, she suddenly asked, "How far away is the First Military District, where Graces is stationed?"
The old butler paused, taken aback by the sudden question. He couldn't quite figure out why Duke Lu Xia would ask such a thing out of the blue, but he answered nonetheless. "It isn't far from here. Would you like to go see Graces?"
"If it's on the way, let's go take a look." She could also use the opportunity to tell him about the pregnancy. As the child's father, she felt he had a right to know.
'After all, this pregnancy isn't my burden to bear alone. While I'm taking on all the risks, he should have to contribute something, too.'
'I just wonder if the news will frighten him.' She was rather curious to find out. A smirk played on her lips.
A hint of mischief welled up inside her.